Man Utd big winners as Real Madrid close in on £37.5m deal for 26-year-old

According to the Independent, Real Madrid are closing in on a £37.5m deal with Chelsea for Thibaut Courtois. The 26-year-old has been linked with the move to the Santiago Bernabéu all summer and his move to Los Blancos would make Manchester United big winners as it would boost the chances of David De Gea staying at Old Trafford for the long-term.

The Spanish international has been linked with a move away from Manchester for many years. He was reportedly unhappy and seeking an exit in 2012, came within seconds of completing a deal in 2015 and was heavily tipped to make the switch in 2017. However, De Gea remained at United and looks more likely to agree a new deal with the Red Devils than with another club.

With Real close to signing Courtois, they should finally admit defeat and leave De Gea alone. While good news for United, it’s bad news for Chelsea. The Blues could be losing a top-five goalkeeper as he’s threatened to leave for nothing at the end of his contract. Nevertheless, Chelsea’s loss is Jose Mourinho’s gain, as he’ll no longer have to worry about the future of the Spaniard.